Over 200 Ransomware Strains Detected in Last Part of 2021
With the news focused on just a few key ransomware strains, it’s understandable to think you’ll never be a target. But newly-released data shows who’s doing the attacking and who’s being targeted.
Last year was full of some very prominent ransomware attacks – particularly those impacting critical infrastructure. But hearing just a few names of ransomware variants can lull some orgs into a sense of “there’s only a few – I doubt we’ll be a target”. But new data from Bitdefender in their December 2021 Threat Debrief shows there’s a lot of ransomware and it’s everywhere!
According to the debrief, in November of 2021 alone there were:
- 222 Ransomware strains actively attacking organizations
- Nearly 11 million attacks were detected
- 165 countries were affected, with the most attacks experienced in the United States, Brazil, and India
- The top industries targeted included Telecom, Education, Government, Technology, and Retail
Source: Bitdefender
The scary part of this new data is that 222 ransomware strains; that’s 222 organizations – some (if not most) using an “as a service” model – working every day to improve their ability to render your organization inoperable with no other choice but to pay them.
And because phishing attacks play such a critical role in delivering ransomware to organizations, it’s equally important to be implementing continual Security Awareness Training to stop ransomware attacks well-before any kind of malware can run and take hold of your organization’s data.
Free Ransomware Simulator Tool
Threat actors are constantly coming out with new strains to evade detection. Is your network effective in blocking all of them when employees fall for social engineering attacks?
KnowBe4’s “RanSim” gives you a quick look at the effectiveness of your existing network protection. RanSim will simulate 22 ransomware infection scenarios and 1 cryptomining infection scenario and show you if a workstation is vulnerable.
Here’s how it works:
- 100% harmless simulation of real ransomware and cryptomining infections
- Does not use any of your own files
- Tests 21 types of infection scenarios
- Just download the install and run it
- Results in a few minutes!
PS: Don’t like to click on redirected buttons? Cut & Paste this link in your browser: https://info.knowbe4.com/ransomware-simulator-tool-partner?partnerid=001a000001lWEoJAAW